The mountains stood tall and majestic, welcoming me to a world of wonder and excitement. I had set on a mission to ride through the high-altitude wilderness and conquer the curvy routes on a larger than me motorcycle. Then there came this moment, when I entered the road less taken.
The 7-8 km stretch of road ahead was a bumpy, unpaved trail cutting through the dense, creepy foliage of the mystical Sitla forest range in Uttarakhand. My first time ever riding through mountains and forests and guess what? I was all alone on that eerie route.
Definitely, fear paid me a fleeting visit. I mean, what if my cool bike decided to play dead smack in the middle of nowhere? Picture this: me, stranded, looking for help, but wait, there’s no phone network in this Godforsaken forest! I could be stuck walking for miles, dodging wild critters like a real-life action hero.
Rustling Leaves & Vrooming Wheels through forest
Nature had a way of captivating my senses, and the fears soon gave way to fascination. Imagine this—the majestic mountains standing tall, the rustling leaves performing a wild dance, and me, the fearless biker, taking it all in like a boss. Oh, the rush of adrenaline and dopamine!
With each twist and turn, the jungle hugged me tight, whispering, “You got this, girl!” And I’m not gonna lie, I felt like the hero of my own action-packed movie. But guess what? The adventure was about to hit the climax. As I approached the exit gate of the forest, I was greeted by the most astonished forest guard ever! The look on his face screamed, “Who’s this woman taking on the wild on her lonesome?”
Little did he know, I didn’t plan to be on this epic jungle route at all! It was Google Maps’ fault, showing me a shortcut. And like a true adventurer, I thought, “Hey, why not?” I was on a mission to reach Mukteshwar before sunset, and I wasn’t about to back down. And at the end, it’s these unplanned escapades that make life one heck of a thrilling ride!
Learning to Ride, Defying Stereotypes – and Gravity!
To be honest I used to despise adventure motorcyclists for all their annoying bragging and show-offs. Ugh, seriously, who needs that? But one day, my so-called “friend” dissed me for a trip, claiming I’d be a burdensome pillion rider. Well, that did it! I decided to prove them wrong and take matters into my own hands—or should I say, handlebars!
Enter my savior, the amazing Shilpa BalaKrishnan, a motorcycle guru who took it upon herself to transform me into a biker babe. It was time for my 21-day motorcycle boot camp. From not knowing how to turn on the engine to conquering the roads, I was on fire! My confidence soared like a superhero, smashing all those silly myths into smithereens.
“People say short and petite girls can’t ride big motorcycles, legs won’t reach, and handling the weight is impossible.” Ha! Challenge accepted, my friends! Who needs legs down to the floor when you’re zooming on a beast? I don’t have to carry the bike; it’ll carry me like a boss!
And guess what? I aced my motorcycle test at the RTO with colors flying high! I was officially licensed to ride. With newfound freedom and a band of fellow female riders, I set out on a short monsoon trip from Mumbai to Khopoli to celebrate independence day of India on August 15, 2021.
As the raindrops danced around me, I cruised with my rider gang, feeling the wind in my hair and a smile on my face. It was also celebration of my newfound independence, both as a rider and as a soul ready to conquer the world.
Crashes and Confidence: Becoming an ‘Almost’ Fearless Mountain Rider
My trip to the Himalayan Region in November 2021 was primarily aimed at sighting tigers in the wild at Jim Corbett National Park, But little did I know that this trip would also lead me to a whole new world of mountain biking!
After my tiger escapade, I decided to explore the mountainous region further, starting with Nainital, just 60 km away from Corbett. With no fixed plans in mind, I simply wanted to spend a week in the mountains, keeping my adventure as economical as possible.
Enter the sleek & youthful GoStops hostel in Nainital, where an intriguing ad about renting motorcycles caught my eye. My Gujarati brain swiftly calculated the cost-effectiveness of mountain biking. “Why not try it? Cheaper than a four-wheeler, right?”
With newfound excitement, I hopped on the Bajaj Avenger for a test drive. But oh boy, my confidence was short-lived. As soon as I attempted a sharp turn downhill just outside the hostel gate, both the monstrous bike and I ended up falling on opposite sides! Oh, the spectacle of it all, as fellow travelers witnessed the epic crash!
I hesitantly bounced back from the fall, waving at the fellas, signalling I was unhurt. Physically sure I was fine, but the inner esteem had suffered a jolt, making me question my wild biking plan. But you know what? I can’t back down, How can I resist an adventure ! I took the bike for a small detour of Naini lake that evening and focussed on my biking guru’s mantras about riding and overcame my fears. I felt ready to conquer those unknown mountains on two wheels, solo and fearless
Well, almost fearless. You see, there was a slight slip here—I conveniently lied to my mother about renting a chauffeur-driven car. And so to keep myself accountable and safe, I befriended the hostel manager, turning him into my local guardian. “Hey, you’ve got my back if something goes haywire, right?” I asked with a sly grin and the kind soul agreed.
Unplanned Detours & Unexpected Delights in the Himalayan Heartland
Next day, I decided to give the Avenger another go, off to Pangot, a famous birding destination around 15 km from Nainital. I was a bit scared at first, but as I approached the destination, my grip on the handlebars tightened, and I started to feel more confident.
In Pangot, I decided to take it easy, not wanting to crash again. A small hike and some chai did the trick. But who would’ve thought that after the crash on day one, I’d end up giving a schoolboy a ride on the way back? Oh, how the mighty have risen, from bike crashes to being a quirky school bus on wheels!
Oh boy, fueled by my “impressive” biking skills, I hatched an even grander plan to conquer more unique destinations over 200 kilometers of treacherous mountain terrain over next few days. What could possibly go wrong, right? I tell you, every day was like an episode of a comical adventure series.
I was the star, riding my bike like a wannabe superhero, with the mountains as my ever-entertaining audience. There were moments when I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew, but I laughed in the face of fear. Who needs fear anyway when you have a mighty Avenger by your side, right?
From visiting ancient temples that seemed to have seen better days (just like my poor bike), to getting lost in the mystical forests and wondering if I’d ever find my way back (GPS, where art thou?), to trying out the local food that left my taste buds both delighted and confused, and even falling in love with the locals’ crafts that were too beautiful to resist (goodbye, suitcase space!).
As I rolled through each destination, I realized that life is just like those twisty mountain roads—full of surprises, bumps, and moments that leave you breathless. But I embraced it all with a grin and a revving engine. Those 200 kilometers were not just about the places I visited, but about the person I became along the way—a quirky, daring, and endlessly curious soul ready to face whatever the mountains threw my way.
So, to all the misfit adventurers out there, here’s a tip: embrace the unexpected, laugh at your own mishaps, and let the mountains show you that life’s real magic lies in the journey itself. And trust me, it’ll be one heck of a hilarious and unforgettable ride!
This is such a great read Aditi. I could imagine you in my head. So so proud of you. Cheers to many more adventures.